Nuclear Conversion And Processing

Pakistan Expanding Nuclear Reactor Facilities To Give Increased Capabilities For Nuclear Weapons
18 January 2007

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL (WASHINGTON)— The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) concluded that Pakistan is expanding its nuclear facilities in order to make nuclear weapons. ISIS based their conclusion on commercial satellite imagery it received from DigitalGlobe and GeoEye of the Chasma nuclear industrial park in Pakistan. ISIS indicated that the imagery depicts the construction of a second nuclear reactor at Chasnupp, a fuel fabrication facility, and a fuel reprocessing facility. Although ISIS was not certain that the facilities are operational, the nature and rate of construction indicate the facilities may soon be ready for operations. ISIS further stated that the reprocessing facility may be capable of "separating weapons-grade plutonium out of spent reactor fuel in order to develop thermonuclear weapons as well as increase the size of its nuclear arsenal."
Source: www.upi.com

Source: Reliability: 8

Pictured Right: Map of nuclear facilities in Pakistan including the Chasnupp nuclear industrial park. Source: http://tinyurl.com/39lapc

-Ian